gaged in another
desperate struggle saddened the young cousins, who felt that a long
time might elapse before they again met; and that in the meantime their
fathers, and possibly themselves, might be fighting in opposite ranks.
Although the breaches of the truces caused, as a rule, but little
bloodshed, being in fact but cattle lifting expeditions, it was very
different in time of war, when wholesale massacres took place on both
sides, towns and villages were burned down, and the whole of the
inhabitants put to the sword. Ten years had sufficed to soften the
memory of these events, especially among young people, but each had
heard numberless stories of wrong and slaughter, and felt that, when
war once again broke out in earnest, there was little hope that there
would be any change in the manner in which it would be conducted.

Oswald rode rapidly, until he had crossed the border. The truce would
not expire for another thirteen days, but the raiders might be at work
at any moment; for assuredly there would be no chance of complaints
being made, on the eve of recommencement of general hostilities. He met
no one on the road, until he reached the first hamlet on the English
side. Here he stopped to give his horse half an hour's rest, and a
feed. As he dismounted, two or three of the villagers came up.

"Have you heard aught, lad, of any gatherings on the other side of the
border?"

"None from where I came; but there was a talk that notices had been
sent, through the southern Scottish marches, for all to be in readiness
to gather to the banner without delay, when the summons was received."

"That is what we have heard," a man said. "We have made everything in
readiness to drive off our cattle to the fells; the beacons are all
prepared for lighting, from Berwick down to Carlisle; and assuredly the
Scotch will find little, near the border, to carry back with them.

"You are the son of stout John Forster of Yardhope Keep, are you not? I
saw you riding by his side, two months since, at Alwinton fair."

"Yes, I was there with him."

"He will have hot work, if a Scotch army marches into Tynedale. The
Bairds will be sure to muster strongly, and they won't forgive the last
raid on them; and whichever way they go, you may be sure that your
father's hold will receive a visit."

"It was but a return raid," Oswald said. "The Bairds had been down our
way, but a short time before, and lifted all the cattle and horses that
they co